Nuns’ Arrest Upsets BJP’s Grand Christian Outreach Programme in State
Thiruvananthapuram: The arrest of two nuns from Kerala from the Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh has disrupted the BJP’s ambitious Christian outreach programme in the southern state, aimed at achieving electoral success in the upcoming local polls and next year's Assembly elections.
Massive protests that broke out in the state after the arrest of nuns have unsettled the BJP Kerala leadership. State party president Rajiv Chandrashekhar flew to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. The BJP also sent a delegation to Chhattisgarh to manage the situation.
But Union minister Suresh Gopi's silence and the reactions of his Cabinet counterpart George Kurian have angered the community.
In remarks to the media, Kurian had sought to give a clean chit to the BJP government in Chhattisgarh saying: "It was the TTE who detained the nuns and caught others. The government has no role in it." He also said that bail was denied to nuns because the plea was not presented properly. The minister also mocked at journalists who repeatedly asked him questions about the rough treatment meted out to the nuns.
The images of Bajrang Dal activists, including women members, abusing and humiliating the nuns at the railway station have deeply hurt the community, seen in the emotional response of nuns and Church leaders on the streets of Kerala.
The arrests came at a time the BJP was celebrating the success of its Christian outreach, which played a crucial role in electing its first-ever Lok Sabha MP from Kerala and a noticeable rise in vote share in several Assembly segments. The party believed it had made significant progress in connecting with a large section of Christians who no longer viewed the BJP and Sangh Parivar as political outsiders.
The appointment of George Kurian as Union minister was also seen as an effort to strengthen ties with the Christian community. Kurian, previously vice-chairman of the National Minorities Commission, maintained strong ties with Church leaders from various Christian denominations, and the party believed his influence would solidify these connections.
The BJP and a section of the Christian community found common ground on the ‘love jihad’ issue, with some Church leaders even raising concerns about a new threat called ‘narcotic jihad’ from Muslim fundamentalist organisations. They echoed the BJP’s accusations of Muslim appeasement against the CPM and the Congress.
Prime Minister Modi met with top leaders of eight Christian denominations in Kochi two years ago. BJP leaders organised a state-wide Sneha Yatra, visiting Bishop Houses, Church headquarters, and Christian homes with cakes and PM Modi's Christmas and New Year greetings.
All this took place while the ruling LDF and opposition Congress-led UDF warned the Christian community about the BJP's newfound affection.
With the nuns episode causing a significant trust deficit for the BJP, among the Christian community, the party may face great challenges in regaining their support and turning Shah's target into a reality.
